Lifting Hà Nội’s curfew a headache for locals

Update:
August, 19/2016 - 09:00

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Last week, Việt Nam News asked its readers for their thoughts on Hà Nội’s plan to relax the ban on businesses, especially late-night bars and pubs, allowing them to stay open after midnight. Here are some of their comments:

Oscar Montes, American , Hà Nội

I’m happy with the lifting of the ban and I’m happy the "If you don’t like, then leave" attitude from many Vietnamese people isn’t working anymore.

As far as I know, tourist numbers have been modest recently and visitors aren’t interested in coming back or recommending Việt Nam as a place to visit.

I believe that lifting the curfew will accommodate more tourists and expats in Hà Nội.

I have lived in Hà Nội for two years and sometimes find it a bit annoying as the options for socialising are limited because of the curfew.

Eugene Pidlisnyi, Ukrainian, Hà Nội

Lifting the curfew or not doesn’t matter to me as I prefer to sleep at night rather than going to parties.

Previously, I lived on Nguyễn Thiệp Street near Hoàn Kiếm District but then moved to Cầu Giấy District as I don’t want to be disturbed with the noise of parties.

The city’s nightlife has been around for years. If you want to have a party or to sit at a bar after midnight, it’s not difficult to find places in Hoàn Kiếm or Tây Hồ District.

However, in tourist destinations like Nha Trang, Phú Quốc or Mũi Né, there is a lack of nightlife.

Lifting the curfew might cause negative impacts. The solution is to ban or limit alcohol trading after midnight.

Overall, I think this decision is good as there is no sense banning such things. I hope that the ban will soon be lifted in Nha Trang, Mũi Né or Phú Quốc.

Richard Cassar, British, Hà Nội

I believe that the curfew has negative implications. It encourages binge drinking and leads to a large amount of people being on the streets at the same time.

This mix can often lead to confrontations. Lifting the curfew is a much more sensible approach to managing a city’s nightlife.

Jessica Milner, Hà Nội

As a foreigner living in Hà Nội and working after 9pm, I am over the moon happy to hear that the curfew will be lifted. It means that I actually have some time to socialise and meet friends - something I have found hard here.

Nguyễn Mỹ Hòa, Vietnamese, Hà Nội

I’m a resident in the Old Quarter’s Mã Mây Street, and the city’s decision to lift the curfew will upset those who just want to sleep after a tiring day.

My family runs a silver jewelry shop, and we are open until 10pm. We have a busy day, and by closing time, we just want the street to be silent so we can rest. The noise of the restaurants next to my shop, which is also my house, the laughing and chatting of customers, and light always disturb my sleep and my two childrens’ sleep. I can’t imagine how much worse it will be when the ban is officially lifted.

Andrew Burden, Canadian, Hà Nội

If you asked me when I was 20 if it’s a good idea for bars to stay open late I would have yelled “Hell, yes! Let’s go.”. Now that I am relatively mature, a teacher, and over 50, I say “well maybe, but make sure the police are checking for drunk drivers, the doorman is checking ID for underage customers, and healthy food is being served.”

If you want to make the capital a party town, please keep the noise down. It’s noisy enough with honking horns, construction drilling and government loudspeakers.

There is a correlation with late night drinking, vandalism, graffiti and other modern urban annoyances.

But hey, what do I know? I’m just a grumpy old man. Party on like it’s 1999 (when I was only 34 years old). — VNS